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Insight and alexithymia in adult outpatients with obsessive–compulsive disorder

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Abstract

Objective

To elucidate the relationships between insight and alexithymia in a sample of adult outpatients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD).

Methods

112 adult outpatients with OCD were tested. Severity of OCD was assessed with the first 10–items of the Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y–BOCS) and score for item # 11 on the Y–BOCS was considered as a measure of insight. Alexithymia was measured with 20–item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS–20). Additional measures were Maudsley Hospital Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) and Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).

Results

Of the patients, 29.5% showed poor or no insight. Patients with poor or no insight were more alexithymic than patients with excellent, good and moderate insight. TAS–20 total score and subfactors positively correlated with score for item # 11 on the Y–BOCS, severity of OCD and MADRS scores. In stepwise regression model, MADRS scores, factor 3 of TAS–20 (Externally Oriented Thinking), somatic and hoarding–saving obsessions were significantly associated with lower insight.

Conclusions

Results show a relationship between poor or absent insight and high alexithymia levels in OCD patients.

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De Berardis, D., Campanella, D., Gambi, F. et al. Insight and alexithymia in adult outpatients with obsessive–compulsive disorder. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 255, 350–358 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-005-0573-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-005-0573-y

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